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The meter in our house has two set of tails coming from the consumer side of it (got worried when I first saw it until I ascertained they both came from that side). The two sets of tails actually connect into the meter itself; not through a junction box.
One set goes to the main CU, the other goes to a single, fused isolator switch for the shower circuit; effectively a single outlet CU I suppose. That was obviously added later (along with the shower) because there were no spare connections for another circuit in the very old CU.
First question: Is that even legal? It's all in old black and red wiring so it was done before that new set of regulations at least.
A little while ago we were told we needed a new meter because ours was old. An engineer came to change it, but saw the two sets of tails and said he could not continue because he would not be able to reconnect it like that.
Second question: Is that for a regulatory or meter rules reason, or just because he didn't want to and he could actually have done it? (I should have asked him to be clearer at the time)
At some point we will probably be told we're having a smart meter (don't want one, but such is life) and we might well have the same problem again. So...
Third question: Could the shower circuit tails be connected from shower isolator into the main CU (instead of the meter), where there are spaces on the busbars for the cables; there just isn't space for another fuse module. The existing shower fused isolation switch would still be in-circuit. Alternatively it might be possible to connect the tails into the main isolator switch, either inlet or outlet side. The existing second set of tails are long enough to reach either. I haven't pulled the cover off the main isolator yet (it's a 6-inch square metal box on its own) because, well, it's live!
Would the above be considered notifiable work? I'm not actually adding a new circuit or changing protection, I don't think.
Another alternative would be Henley blocks to split a single consumer-side tail from the meter to the two CUs. That's more difficult practically though as it would have to be coordinated with the meter-changing-person and I don't know how amenable he/she might be to me slowing them down while I muck about. Probably not very. Also - is that notifiable anyway?
I would consider getting an electrician in to change the whole CU for a new one and consolidate the two parts, it is ancient, but money is extremely tight. I'm quite capable skill-wise of doing it myself if it's not notifiable.
Just to be clear, if it's notifiable I'll not be doing it myself. Nor will I be doing anything with a live connection, especially not one capable of exploding my screwdriver. Life's short enough as it is
One set goes to the main CU, the other goes to a single, fused isolator switch for the shower circuit; effectively a single outlet CU I suppose. That was obviously added later (along with the shower) because there were no spare connections for another circuit in the very old CU.
First question: Is that even legal? It's all in old black and red wiring so it was done before that new set of regulations at least.
A little while ago we were told we needed a new meter because ours was old. An engineer came to change it, but saw the two sets of tails and said he could not continue because he would not be able to reconnect it like that.
Second question: Is that for a regulatory or meter rules reason, or just because he didn't want to and he could actually have done it? (I should have asked him to be clearer at the time)
At some point we will probably be told we're having a smart meter (don't want one, but such is life) and we might well have the same problem again. So...
Third question: Could the shower circuit tails be connected from shower isolator into the main CU (instead of the meter), where there are spaces on the busbars for the cables; there just isn't space for another fuse module. The existing shower fused isolation switch would still be in-circuit. Alternatively it might be possible to connect the tails into the main isolator switch, either inlet or outlet side. The existing second set of tails are long enough to reach either. I haven't pulled the cover off the main isolator yet (it's a 6-inch square metal box on its own) because, well, it's live!
Would the above be considered notifiable work? I'm not actually adding a new circuit or changing protection, I don't think.
Another alternative would be Henley blocks to split a single consumer-side tail from the meter to the two CUs. That's more difficult practically though as it would have to be coordinated with the meter-changing-person and I don't know how amenable he/she might be to me slowing them down while I muck about. Probably not very. Also - is that notifiable anyway?
I would consider getting an electrician in to change the whole CU for a new one and consolidate the two parts, it is ancient, but money is extremely tight. I'm quite capable skill-wise of doing it myself if it's not notifiable.
Just to be clear, if it's notifiable I'll not be doing it myself. Nor will I be doing anything with a live connection, especially not one capable of exploding my screwdriver. Life's short enough as it is
